A Cocktail Lover’s Guide to New Orleans

Cocktails are king in New Orleans, and this city has been serving up old-school tipples long before Mad Men-style sips became cool. From the effervescent French 75 to a silky Brandy Milk Punch, here’s what to drink and where to drink it while in the Crescent City.

Classic New Orleans cocktails (and where to try them)

Sazerac: In 1838, apothecary Antoine Peychaud created what became known as the Sazerac, a cocktail combining rye, a sugar cube, Herbsaint, and Peychaud's bitters—named, yes, for the man himself. The best place to try the iconic drink is at the Sazerac Bar in the Roosevelt Hotel, a handsome, historic space with a long mahogany bar and murals by modern artist Paul Ninas on the walls.

French 75: Although it wasn't created in New Orleans, this champagne drink has since become strongly identified with the city, even inspiring the name of a bar attached to Arnaud's Restaurant. It originated at Harry's Bar during World War I and and was named for a 75-mm French artillery gun. Many versions nowadays are made by combining champagne, gin, and lemon juice, but the iteration you'll find at the French 75 bar uses Courvoisier instead.

The Vieux Carré: Named for the French Quarter, or “old square” in French, this drink was invented at The Carousel Bar & Lounge in the 1930s and can still be had at the iconic revolving bar inside the Hotel Monteleone. It’s swirled with a potent combination of rye, Benedictine liqueur, cognac, sweet vermouth, and Peychaud’s and Angostura bitters.

Hurricane: Trying a potent Hurricane is a rite of passage for many tippling tourists. The boozy drink was born at Pat O'Brien's Bar in the French Quarter, where the barmen created it as a way to use excess amounts of rum. An elevated version of the drink can be found at cocktail hot spot SoBou; there, the Gatorcane is made with local rum, passion fruit puree, lime, and ginger syrup, with a plastic gator floated in the icy beverage.

Brandy Milk Punch: Like a Bloody Mary, the Brandy Milk Punch is a classic brunch drink that often serves as a hair-of-the-dog hangover cure. The silky, sweet beverage is made with brandy, simple syrup, vanilla, milk, and nutmeg. Find the drink being sipped by those in seersucker at Brennan’s, which has been serving this “eye opener” cocktail come early morning since 1956.

Best neighborhoods for drinking

The Quarter is where you’ll find the classics, but head to the Bywater, a revitalized, creative neighborhood that’s often referred to as the Brooklyn of the south, for a more authentic and low-key experience. Here, one can bike around for stops at Oxalis, Bacchanal, and Sentiments Wine and Cheese Dive.

Not a cocktail fan?

While cocktails reign supreme, drinks of all sorts are done well in this city. If you’re in the mood for wine, head to Bacchanal deep in the Bywater, which has become a cult favorite. The mellow bar houses a retail shop in front and a romantic al fresco courtyard in the back (with live jazz, to boot). Barrel Proof, on Magazine, offers whiskey any which way, and owner Liam Deegan (formerly of Sylvain, and a big fan of beer and brown booze) serves a prodigious list of imported and international whiskeys. Try a flight if you want to sample more than one of the many varieties on offer.

Courtesy SoBou

Where the local bartenders drink

Abigail Gullo, bar chef at SoBou, says that even on her days off, she tries to keep up on her craft. When she’s at the New Orleans Athletic Club, she can be found in her comfy clothes having “recovery drinks” in the bar at the gym. She also recommends visiting the backyard at Bacchanal.

If you’re in the mood for a dive

Head uptown to Snake and Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge. It’s dark, dingy, cheap, and a bit smelly—so basically, everything you’d ever want in a dive bar. The decades-old bar has hosted its share of characters, including Anthony Bourdain, who, when asked by HBO about the craziest thing that happened to him in New Orleans, replied, “I can’t remember. But it probably happened at Snake and Jakes.”